Bernie Leypold has also been named Crystal’s senior vice-president of hotel operations, while further updates on appointments, ship enhancements and itineraries will soon be made at CrystalCruises.com, according to A&K.

A&K co-chair Manfredi Lefebvre and chief executive Cristina Levis welcomed the ships into Fincantieri’s Trieste shipyard on Tuesday (26 July) where the vessels are undergoing refurbishment.

“There are extensive refurbishments planned for both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity that will elevate the customer experience,” said Levis. 

“Some staterooms will be combined, creating more butler suites and reducing overall guest capacity. This will bring a gracious new feeling of spaciousness to the restaurants and public areas.”

“Geoffrey Kent and Manfredi Lefebvre are icons and innovators in luxury travel,” added Anderson. “With their ownership, leadership and vision for these ships and the award-winning Crystal Cruises brand, we are embarking on a new and exciting chapter. We and the entire Crystal Cruises family look forward to welcoming guests again soon.”